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Pinwheels filled part of the front lawn at Penn State Hershey Medical Center in 2012.

Image: Darrell Peterson, Penn State Hershey Medical Center

Hershey readies support for Child Abuse Awareness Month

March 27, 2013

Hershey readies support for Child Abuse Awareness Month

The blue pinwheel is the symbol for the prevention of child abuse nationwide, and during Child Abuse Awareness Month in April, blue pinwheels will be "planted” around the Penn State Hershey campus to help raise awareness of the need to address the problem of child abuse.

Even one abused child is a tragedy, but the numbers tell a devastating tale of child abuse:

-- More than 3 million children per year are victims of child maltreatment in the United States.

-- More than 1,700 children die from abuse each year in the United States.

-- 80 percent of all abuse-related fatalities are children younger than 4 years old.

Also to help raise awareness of child abuse, Penn State Hershey faculty, staff, students, patients and friends can purchase blue ribbon lapel pins ($5 each) and “WE ARE … STILL PROUD” T-shirts ($15 each). Proceeds benefit Penn State Hershey Center for the Protection of Children.

All month there will be tables throughout campus with information on child abuse, how everyone can help keep children safe and the activities of the Center for the Protection of Children.

For additional information or to place an order for a pin or shirt, contact Patricia Verdon at pverdon@hmc.psu.edu or 717-531-5158.